G20 urged to act as 'representatives of humanity'

ANKARA

G20 states should act as representatives of humanity, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Saturday.

In his speech to G20 finance ministers and central bank governors in the capital Ankara on Saturday, Davutoglu said that some global issues required one to act as an official of humanity rather than an official of state.

He called for better coordination among G20 states to tackle issues of global importance and a demonstration of better sense of humanity in all its actions.

“Sometimes in some specific issues we need to act differently rather than being the ministers of nation states,” he said, adding: “Otherwise, it is impossible to take a coherent position in a coordinated manner for solving those issues."

He said that a similar approach was needed to overcome the ongoing global economic crisis and stagnation.

"It [G20] should act as a common ground, a platform which represents international community or as representatives of humanity. Otherwise, there will be everlasting disputes and it will be hard to come to conclusions,” he said.

Davutoglu also pointed out the effects of economic crises on people’s approach towards the helpless as seen in the recent refugee crisis on the borders of EU, which was the result of civilians fleeing war and poverty.

“How will these crises be addressed? Today, in many European countries we see traumatic actions after the economic crisis that Europeans suffered. The consequence of this economic crisis is now reflecting in the negative attitude towards refugees,” he said.

The Group of Twenty (G20) countries collectively account for 80 percent of world trade.